Smaller portable AM/FM radio with AFC

November 03, 2024, 09:05 AM

coloradohunter44

Hey folks, my cheap portable radio I keep on the boat just doesn't seem to be able to hold the frequency well. Does anyone have a smaller one that will stay on the frequency? Does a digital tuner fix this issue? I appreciate your input on this. I like to listen to Dan Bongino or some tunes in the background. I really don't want to chop a hole somewhere and install a full blown system. Thanks.

November 03, 2024, 10:04 AM

honestlou

How far from the station antenna are you? Lots of small portables that work great, but depends on signal strength, distance and antenna.

Have cell coverage? If so, get a small Bluetooth speaker and stream on your phone.

November 03, 2024, 10:48 AM

4MUL8R

Streaming may be problematic but you can download podcasts and listen on the boat.

AM is dead with Soros purchasing the big company.

FM is not easy to tune in with barriers from antenna to radio.

There are numerous threads on this forum about radios to buy but not sure if they list portable or only ac powered.

November 03, 2024, 11:34 AM

coloradohunter44

quote:
Originally posted by honestlou:
How far from the station antenna are you? Lots of small portables that work great, but depends on signal strength, distance and antenna.

Have cell coverage? If so, get a small Bluetooth speaker and stream on your phone.

I use it frequently in the Fort Collins and Loveland area. There are plenty of stations within 50-60 miles.

November 04, 2024, 07:24 AM

trapper189

Reception will depend on where the transmitters' towers are in relation to your receiver. FM is line of sight and 50-60 miles is normally beyond the Earth's curvature. Being in Colorado, maybe the transmitting towers are on mountains and you still have LOS to the towers.

Even then, the signal will be weaker than it would be if you were closer. The fix for that is a better antenna.

It's slim pickens in the portable radio these days. If you have room on the boat, I'd look at installing a car stereo and a good antenna.

November 04, 2024, 10:20 AM

bettysnephew

I have had excellent reception from C Crane radios. They are in several sizes, one of which will probably suit your needs. I am using the 2E model.

November 04, 2024, 11:25 AM

radioman

these are $10

amazon link to D220

Surprisingly good for the price point.

I have one along with the collection of more than 100 radios that I have here

The SW band isn't great, but the AM and FM are the best I've seen in a small radio after you get used to the digital tuned "steps" with a thumbwheel tuning knob.

Internally, it's got a quartz crystal timebase so should be drift free

It's a clever 'one chip' design, so it differs from the cheap radios of years gone by.

I use NiMH batteries in it, and since the design is so efficient, the batteries last quite a while. It's also loud. I measured 80 dB sound pressure level at 3 feet with little noticeable distortion.

We've had a lot of threads about the cheap 2-way Baofeng radios and similar. Well, the D220 has similar architecture in how it's designed. Single chip receiver with a crystal time-base for precise freq stepped tuning. As opposed to the old days of portable "transistor" radios where the thumbwheel tuning was a variable capacitor.

if you need something better, there are many options, but then I'd have more questions about use, how you would power it, budget etc.

But for $10 this radio is worth having in your go box if nothing else.

November 05, 2024, 02:31 AM

coloradohunter44

quote:
Originally posted by radioman:
these are $10

amazon link to D220

Surprisingly good for the price point.

I have one along with the collection of more than 100 radios that I have here

The SW band isn't great, but the AM and FM are the best I've seen in a small radio after you get used to the digital tuned "steps" with a thumbwheel tuning knob.

Internally, it's got a quartz crystal timebase so should be drift free

It's a clever 'one chip' design, so it differs from the cheap radios of years gone by.

I use NiMH batteries in it, and since the design is so efficient, the batteries last quite a while. It's also loud. I measured 80 dB sound pressure level at 3 feet with little noticeable distortion.

We've had a lot of threads about the cheap 2-way Baofeng radios and similar. Well, the D220 has similar architecture in how it's designed. Single chip receiver with a crystal time-base for precise freq stepped tuning. As opposed to the old days of portable "transistor" radios where the thumbwheel tuning was a variable capacitor.

if you need something better, there are many options, but then I'd have more questions about use, how you would power it, budget etc.

But for $10 this radio is worth having in your go box if nothing else.

Thanks. This is the kind of info I was looking for. I understand line of sight etc, from teaching pilots how to use VOR receivers for navigation etc.

November 05, 2024, 02:44 PM

Cassandra

Also Hunter, if you scroll down at the Amazon link you will find a plenitude! of alternate radios.
Some time ago there was a similar RQ ref Para. I think the common thinking at that time was a County Comm GP World Receiver with a CAGE of 5VKB6. I bought one and it works fine. But if you have BIG fingers the buttons maybe two small.